Nina Gwen Bowen, 86 - November 12, 2008

Nina Gwen Stevens Bowen, 86, long time Palo Alto, CA, resident, died Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 2 p.m. at the All Saint’s Episcopal Church in Palo Alto, located at 555 Waverly Ave. At a later date, her cremains will be scattered on the land of her beloved Nebraska ranch in Lincoln County.
Bowen was born on Sept. 1, 1922, to Everett L. and Lillian Hunt Stevens, at Dwight.
She grew up on a cattle ranch near Ingham, and no matter where she went or traveled, she was always a Nebraskan, according to family members.
Bowen attended Ingham High School, graduating in 1940, with a plan to design dresses, said family members. She then went to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln for two years and taught elementary school in Farnam from 1942-43.
She was united in marriage to Charlie Bowen, a naval aviator, when he returned from the Pacific during World War II. To this union, three children were born—David, Richard Lee and Hugh Bowen. David preceded her in death in 1992 and Richard Lee, the middle son, a few days after his birth.
Bowen had helped manage the housing office at Stanford Linear Accelerator, finding houses for visiting physicists.
During her lifetime, she was a great adventurer, according to family members, and traveled around the world making multiple trips to China and India.
She was also a great reader, leaving 1,000 books, especially enjoying anything on India, mountain climbing and the west, said family members. She especially enjoyed Willa Cather and the English, whether based in the beautiful home counties or the far flung places.
Bowen loved her family, and was a loving soul with friends around the world and around the block, according to family members.
She was a long-time member of the All Saint’s Episcopal Church of Palo Alto.
Also preceding her in death was a grandson, Michael David, in 1998.
Survivors include: her son, Hugh; her brother, Kenneth Stevens of Farnam; nieces and nephews—Nancy, Betsy and Sara, her sister Dorothy’s children—Chris, and Ann, Denessa, Patty, Susie and Robert; two granddaughters—Kimberly and Jennifer.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Christian Children’s Fund that she had supported, or another charity of donor’s choice.

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